Holding means for photosensitive plates and the like



w. c. HUEBNEH. HOLD ING MEANS fOR PHOTOSENSLTIVE PLATES AND THE LIKE.

L 2 9 1 E OH 2% S T u &w m t n e t a P APPLICATION HLEU FEB. 27, l9l-9- W C. HUEBNER.

HOLDING MEANS FOR PHOTOSENSITWE PLATES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION man FEB. 2?, 19m.

Paten ted Sept. 20, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII W. C; H'UtBNER.

HOLDING MEANS FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE PLATES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION" nLEu- FEB. 21. r919.

1,391,116. 7 mmdse t. 20, 1921' A 770/?NE KS.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. HUEBNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HUEBNF-R-BLEISTEIN PATENTS 00., 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

HOLDING MEE NS FUR PHOTOSENSITIVE PLATES AND THE LIKE.

Application flied February 27, 1919. Serial No. 279,492.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM C. Humming a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Holding Means for Photosensitive Plates and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to photographic printing apparatus of the kind used for producing photographic prints upon the photosensitive or sensitized surfaces of metal or other plates which are afterward suitably finished and used for printing in one or more colors. More particularly the invention relates to improvements in the holders or means used for mounting such sensitized plates in the photographic printing apparatus and other apparatus used for coating the plates, or for other purposes in connection with the use of such plates.

The objects of the invention are to provide means wherehy a sensitized metal plate or analogous, thin plate or sheet can he qpickly and easily secured in the required position on the holder by which the plate is mounted in the photographic printing apparatus or other apparatus, and which enables a. plate to be repeatedly placed in precisely the same position in the holder and different plates to be placed in exactly corresponding positions in the same or different holders; also to provide opposite ed es of the plate with attached bars or rein orcing strips which facilitate the mounting of the plate in and its removal from the holders, and which also serve to determine the exact location of the gripper edge and side guide edge of the printing plate in the holder and also to reinforce and protect the edges of the plate and prevent the plate from being creased or dented in handling and manipulating the same: also to provide means which enable the plate holder to be quickly and easily mounted removably in predetermined position on the support of the photographic printing apparatus or other apparatus; also to provide the plate holder with desirable means whereby the plate can be stretched taut and smoothly in the. holder; and also to improve the hol lers or holding means for printing plates and the like in the respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20',

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front or face view showing a sensitized plate holder or holding means embodying the invention mounted on the plate holder support of a photographic printing machine. r

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof on lin'e 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional elevation showing a modified form of holder.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the securing means for one edge of the plate. i

Fig. 5 is an enlarged-sectional plan view on line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a broken plan view, partly in horizontal section of a plate holder and a support therefor.

Fig. 7 is a frontelevation of a holder used for supporting the plate in a coating or sensitizing machine.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the sensitized plate, B a holder on which the sensitized plate is secured and stretched taut. and C a frame, support or carriage on which the plate holder B is mounted, preferably removably. This support or carriage may be either the support on which the plate holder is mounted in a photographic printing machin for holding the sensitized plate in contact with a transparent negative or printing plate; or it may he the supporting part on which the plate holder is mounted in a machine for coating or sensitizing the plate; or the supporting part of other apparatus in which it may be necessary to mount the plate for any purpose in connection with the preparation or use of the same. The support can be of any suitabl construction, depending upon its purpose. The plate holder B preferably comprises a rectangular. open frame composed of parallel longitudinal or upper and lower bars 1 and 2 rigidly connected by end bars or rods 3. In the holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the sensitizedvplate A is secured atone edge to the stationary upper bar 1- of the plate holder and at its opposite edge to an adjustable holding bar 4 which is movable on the end bars 3 of the holder toward and from the stationary bar 1.

The opposite edges of the sensitized plate which are secured to the opposite holding bars or members 1. and 4 of the plate holder 40 bar 6, which has have fixed thereto or formed thereon, mar ginal reinforcements which coiiperate with the holding bars 1 and 4 of the plate holder for securing the plate on the plate holder. 6 These reinforcements also serve to stiffen the edges of the plate and Zhold the same straight sons to prevent deformation or injury to the of the'plate and prevent the plate from ing creased, dented, buckled or otherwise injured in lacin the plate in and removing it from the holder or otherwise handling the plate. As shown, each of hese. reinforcements consists of two narrow. metal bars and 6, between which the edge In of the sensitized plate is clamped and sesurely held by bolts 7 assing through the two clamping bars. he reinforcements could be differently constructed and securcd to, or formedon the edges of the plate. The 2 holding bars or members 1 and 4 of the plate holder to which the opposite edges of the plate are attached are each preferably no vided with a longitudinal recess 8. see ig. 4, adaptedto receive the reinforcing bars on the edge of in Fig. 4, t .undercut or shouldered front e its rear edge is provided with the sensitized plate. Asshown his recess is provided with an dge 9 and at an overhang wise formed or secured thereon. secure the edge of the sensitized of the holding bars of the plate older, it is only necessary to slip the reinforcement on as the elge of the plate downwardly at an inclina front e a shape complemental to the front edge, of the recess, enters the undercut front edge of the recess. The reinforcing bars are retained in this position by the tenaclnvardly in the recess until is disengaged undercut 'edge of the; recess and I ly similarly secured to and removed 56- from the other holding bar of the-plate holder. e marginal portions ofthe sensitized plate pass over and bear on the edges or corners 11 of the holding bars, and these raised or so disposed relatively, to her portions of the holder and the p ate-securing means that the outer surface of the plate is held in wardly beyond the plate-securing means and other parts of the holder. erefore, if a 05 negative or printing plate contacting with separate bar the sensitized plate A should extend beyond the edges of the latter, it could not engage anypart' of the holder and thus prevent perfect contact of the two plates with each other.

determined position, the sensitized plate will always occupy precisely the same position in the plate ho der. For the purpose of insuring such accurate positioning of the plate in the plate holder, each holding bar of the plate holder is provided at one end of the recess 8 with a stop or part 13 against which one end of the .re'

inforcing bar is adapted to abut and the bar is shoved endwise into firm contact with the stop by a pressure devise 14 at thcopposite end of the plate holder. This pressure device as shown'in the drawings consists of a screw passing through a threaded lug 15 on the attaching bar and adapted to engage the adjiacent end of the and force the same endwise by turning the screw. The sensitized late is accurately positioned in the plate ho gler by engaging the reinforcement at one edge of the plate'in one of the holding recesses of the plate holder and forcing the marginal bar over against the stop 13 which definitely locates this edge of the printing plate exactly in the intended position. The reinforcement at the opposite edge of the sensitized plate is then similarly secured in the recess -in the adjustable holding bar of the plate holder and this bar is then moved tostretch the plate taut.

The adjustable holding, bar 4 is preferably provided'at its ends with suitably pivoted guide blocks. 16 arranged to slide on -the end bars 3 of the plate holder and these guide blocks are actuated by screws 17 to move the adjustable bar for stretching the sensitized late. The screws 17 are suitably journal ed on the plate holder, preferably in bearings 18 and 19 at the opposite ends of 115 the screws and the screws turn in threaded nuts 20 which are seated in cylindrical holes in the guide blocks. The'nuts are normally held from turning by set screws 21 or other suitable means, but by loosening the set 120 screws the nuts can be turned so as to set the:v stretching bar 4 accurately into, or sli htly out of parallelism with the opposing ho ding bar, as may be necessary to insure the proper, smooth stretching of the sensi 125 tized plate throughoht after the ad ustable bar has been moved by turning the screws 17. The pivoted guide blocks permit the adjustable holding bar to be set at a slight inclination from a perpendicular to the 180 guide rods without causing the guide blocks to bind on the rods. The operating screws 17 can be turned simultaneously by any suitable connecting mechanism, such as a shaft 22 which is journaled on the lower bar 2 of the plate holder and is connected by spiral pinions 23 with the lower ends of the two screws. The connecting shaft is connected by spiral pinions 24 to an operating shaft 25 which can be turned by a crank or other suitable means. The adjustable holding bar 4 can be quickly moved by turning the single operating shaft 25 which causes a simultaneous rotation of the screws and movement of the opposite ends of the adjustable'ba-r. After thus moving the bar 4 to tighten the plate, one or the other of the nuts 20 can be turned, it necessary, in order to place equal tension on the opposite ends of the plate and prevent any wrinkling or unevenness in the plate. This construction enables a quick, perfect tightening of the plate. 26 represents screws which extend through holes in the lower bar 2 of the plate holder and me screwed into threaded holes in the adjustable holding bar 4. After the adjustable holding bar has been adjusted, as explained. these screws can be insorted and tightened to straighten the holding bar in case the same is s rung out of a true straight line by the strain of the sensitized plate.

The late holder B is secured on the sup-- port CE preferably removably, in the following manner :The upper bar 1 of the plate holder is provided with a longitudinal shoulder, see Fig. 2, which is adapted to rest on a horizontal ledge or shoulder .28 on the front side of the upper bar of the support C. The plate holder is placed with its shoulder resting on this ledge and is moved thereon endwise over against a stop or abutment 29 on the support at one end of the plate holder by a screw-operated wedge block 31). scc Fig. 6, adapted to engage the opposite end of the upper bar of the plate holder. The faces on the ends of the plate holder which contact with the abutment 29 and the wedge block 30 are preferably inclined in two di rcctions, that is, both horizontally and vcrtically, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6. so that when the wedge block 30 is forced inwardly by its operating screw 31 the upper bar of the plate holder will be pressed firmly down on the supporting ledge .28 and also inwardly against the outer face of the support. This insures that the plate holder will be held firmly on the support and always secured thereon in exactly the Same position. After the upper edge of the plate holder has been thus secured. the lower edge is similarly secured by operating a screw 32 which forces a wedge block against the adjacent end of the lower be r of the plate holder and tiorces this bar over against anebutmcnt 33 up the support at the opposite end of thc plate holder. This abutment and the wedge block are also preferably inclined so as to press the lower edge, of the plate holder firmly back against the outer face of the support.

In the plate holder B shown in Figs. 3 and 7, both of the holding bars 4 and 4" for the opposite edges of the plate are adjustable toward and from each other on the end bars 3 of the holder frame. This construction of the holder is desirable for use with plates which differ-considerably in width. The bar 4" is adapted to be set nearer to or farther from the other bar 4 to suitthe width of the plate being used, and can be secured in place by any suitable means, such, for instance, as set screws 34 passing through the guide blocks for this bar and adapted to enter notches 35 in the end bars 3* of the holder frame.

taut by screws 36 at the ends of the holder, as in the case of theholder shown in Figs. 1 and 2. but the screws 36 shown are not connected. but are adapted to be turned independently hy a crank or device applied to the. ends of the screws. The sensitized plate secured to the two holding bars in the manner before explained by seating the re in forcing bars on the oppositeedges of the plate in the recesses in the holding bars. This type of holder enables the plates to be secured in the same with the center ofthe plate coincident with the center of the holder, and holders of this sort are suitable for mounting the plates in a plate-sensitizing or coating machine in which the center of the plate should conform to the center of rotation of the machine.

The described construction of the plate holder and means for securing the plate thereon enable the gripper edge of the sensitizcd plate to be placed exactly in a predetermined position in the photograph c printing machine irrespcctii'e of the size of the'platc used. and also makes it possible to quickly. conveniently and accurately mount the plate for register in a printing press pro vidcd with similar holding means for the reinforced gripper edge of the plate. It is a recognized fact that the gripper edgcs of metal plates become mutilated during repcntcrl use in the various machines in which the plates are used, particnla rly on the print ing press. The resulting irregular edges of the plates are ditficult to straighten out for quick and easy mounting in the plate holders of the photographic printing machines. This dilhcultv climi'natcd and greaterconrenience provided for handling the plates to meet the special rcquircnlcnts in th various operations ncccssalw to the preparation and use of the plates by providing thc plates with the described reinforcements or bars on their edges. These bars insure the sarnc relative The other holding bar 4 is moved to stretch the'plate' position of the plate in the holders of the irrespective of the position that the back edges of the plates assume. This is necessary to conform to certain layout conditions and for convenience in composing photographic inmges on various sized plates. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a holder with the sensitized platev thereon from the photographic printing machine for the purpose of developing the plate and resensitizing it for placing a corrected image in the precise loca tion on the plate. In such a case the holder with the plate thereon can be mounted inrthe sensitizing machine for sensitizing the plate, and can then be replaced in the photo-printing machine in exactly the same p0Sl,tl0ll it previously occupied. .These various results are possible with the described plate holding means. The holder is also adapted for bolding a layout sheet, key sheet or stick up plates in exactly the required position, because of the edge reinforcing or attaching bars which enable all of the plates or sheets to be mounted in exactly registering positions, so that no time is lost between jobs by an undue length of make-ready time. The plates with the attached reinforcing or edge bars can also be readily stored in the minimum space in suitable light proof compartments to protect the sensitized surfaces from light, and the edge reinforcements or bars make it,possible to handle thin, metal plates with the minimum danger buckling the plates.

I claim as my invention:

1. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising a frame having holding members for opposite edges of the plate, projecting reinforcements on said plate adjacent opposite edges thereof, and means for de tachably securing said reinforcements to said holding members.

2. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising a frame having holding members for opposite edges of the plate, projecting reinforcements on said plate adjacent opposite edges thereof, means for detachably securing said reinforcements to said holding members, and means for applying stress to the plate to make the plate taut.

3. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate. comprising a frame having holding members for opposite edges of the plate, a projecting reinforcement on said plate adjaccnt one edge thereof, means for detachably securing said reinforcement to one of said holding members, means for securing the opposite edge of the plate to the other holding member, and means for relatively spreading said holding members to make the plate taut.

of creasing, denting or 4. A holder for a thin sensitized printing platc, comprising a. rectangular frame provided with connected holding members for opposite edges of the plate, a projecting reinforcement on said plate adjacent one edge thereof, one of said holding members having parts which said reinforcement engages for detachably securing the plate to said holding imemberfimd means for securing the opposite edge of the plate to said other holding member 5. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising a rectangular frame provided' with connected holding members for opposite edges of the plate, a projecting retin'forcement on said plate adjacent one edge therof, one of said holding members having parts which interlock with said reinforcement for detachably securing the plate to said holding member, and means for securing the opposite edge of the plate to said other holding member:

6. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising a rectangular frame provided with connected holding members for opposite edges of the plate, rojecting reinforcements on said plate a 'acent opposite edges thereof, and said hoiding members having portions which interlock with said reinforcements for detachably securing the plate to said holding members. i

7. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate comprisin a rectangular frame provide with connected holding members for opposite edges of the plate, projecting rein forcements on said plate adjacent opposite edges thereof, said holding members having portions which interlock with saidreinforcements for detachably securing the plate to said holding members, and means for relatively the plate taut.

8. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising'a rectangular frame provided with connected holding members for opposite edges of the plate, a projecting reinforcement on said plate adjacent one edge thereof, one of said holding me bers having parts which said reinforcemegt enga es for detachably securing the plate to sai holding member, and means for securin the opposite edge of the plate to said ot er holding member, said said holder with its outer face in a plane disposed outwardly beyond the plate securing means and other parts of the holder.

9. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising connected holding mem hers for opposite edges of the plate, projecting reinforcements on said plate adjacent opposite edges thereof, and said holding members having edges oh which the plate bears and recesses beyond said edges in which said reinforcements are seated for detachably securing the plate to said holding spreading said members for makingplate being supported by.

members, said edges of the holding members holding the plate with its outer face in a plane disposed outwardly beyond the plate securing means and the other parts of the holder.

l0. A'holder for a thin sensitized printing late, comprising connected holdingmemers for opposite edges of the plate, a pro jectin reinforcement on said plate adjacent one er ge thereof, one of said holding members having arts which said reinforcement engages for etachably securing the plate to said holding member, and means for moving said reinforcement endwise against a stop on said holding member for placing the plate accurately in a predetermined position on the holder.

11. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising a frame having holding bars for opposite edges of the plate, means for securing opposite edges of the plate to said holding bars screws for moving one of said bars relative y to the other bar, means for simultaneously turning said screws, and parts having screw connections with said screws and adjustably connected to said movable bar whereby said parts can be 'adjusted for causing a relatively different adjustment of the opposite ends of the bar.

12. A holder for a thin sensitized printing plate, comprising connected holding members for opposite edges of the plate, means for securing opposite edges of the plate to said holding members, a support on which the holder rests, and means for moving the holder laterally against a fixed part of the support to position the former accurately on the latter and securing the holder on the support.

13. A holder for a th1n sensitized printing late, comprising connected holding memis for opposite edges of the plate, means for securing opposite edges of the plate to said holding members, a support on which the holder rests, means for moving the holder; laherally against a fixed part of the support to position the former accurately on the latter, and means for pressing the holder firmly'against the face of the support.

14. A holder a a thin flexible printing plate, comprising holding members for up posite edges of the plate, a'projecting reinforcement on said plate adjacent one edge thereof, means for securing said reinforcement to one of said holding members, a part on said holding member against which said reinforcement is adapted to be moved endwise for securing the plate accurately in a predetermined position on the holder, and means for securing the opposite edge of the plate to said other holding member.

15. A holder fora thin flexible printing plate, comprising holding members for opposite edges of the plate, a projecting reinforcement on said plate adjacent one edge thereof, means for securing said reinforcement to one of said holding members, and means for securing the o posite edge of the plate to said other hol ing member, said holding members having edges on which the plate bears and which hold the plate with its outer face in a plane disposed outwardly beyond the plate securing means and other parts of the holder.

16. A holder for a thin flexible printing plate, comprisin holding members for opposite edges of the plate, a projecting reinforcement on said plate adjacent one edge thereof, means for .securing said reinforcement to one of said holding members, a part on said holdin member against which said reinforcement IS adapted to be moved and wise for securing the plate accurately in a predetermined position on the holder, means for securing the opposite edge of the late to said other holding member, said hofding members having edges on which theplate bears and which hold the plate with its outer face in a plane disposed outwardly beyond the plate securing means and other parts of the holder.

\Vitness my hand this 24th day of Febru- W itncsses C. \V. PARKER, A. L. MOGEE. 

